The British speedy took his third pole position of this season as he generate a leading show in qualifying, finishing half a second quicker than Daniel Ricciardo and more than a second quicker than his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg and defending world champion Sebastian Vettel.

The 2008 world champion Hamilton is a two-time Chinese GP winner (2008 and 2011) and has finished on the podium in each of the last four seasons. Even as Red Bull, has not had a podium finish since 2011.

Another enjoyable movement for Red Bull is that both drivers have qualified in the top three for the first time this season.

The bad news for Kimi Raikkonen’s failed to enter into the top 10. With his Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso qualifying fifth it marks the first time in his last nine appearances at the Chinese Grand Prix that the Finn has been out qualified by his team-mate.